Xbox One won't be backwards compatible with Xbox 360 games

The new architecture of the Xbox One makes backwards compatibility difficult, says Microsoft.

The next-generation Xbox One won't be able to play old Xbox 360 games, Microsoft has confirmed.

Speaking to The Verge, Microsoft Xbox Live vice president Marc Whitten said that the architecture between the two machines is too different to allow for backwards compatibility. "The system is based on a different core architecture, so back-compat doesn't really work from that perspective," he said.

Microsoft's new Xbox One uses an new x64 processor, as opposed to the PowerPC core of the Xbox 360.

The Xbox 360 supported backwards compatibility of over 400 original Xbox titles.

Sony is in a similar position with its upcoming PlayStation 4, although the company has said it hopes to one day make its PlayStation 3 catalogue available on its next-generation console via cloud streaming technology.

Don't take out your frustration out on the XBOX ONE because you can't afford it. There are plenty of systems that play the older used games that seem so important to all of you and systems that play games only. You ahead of Us cause it will cost you all much less money.

I do think this is wrong. I've heard Larry nelson of XBOX LIVE say it will be backwards compatible in his Pod Cast. I'll wait till an actual release before I spread rumors which some people should do too.

backwards compatibility hasnt always been a standard for as long as ive been gaming (since the early 80's). to me, its a premium feature that we as gamers should be so lucky to have. so now, when a new gen of hardware is on the horizon and its known that they wont be backwards compatible with the previous generation's software, everyone seems to be up in arms about it. just remember that many successors of various companies' game systems in the past 40 years or so werent backwards compatible with the previous generation's games.

Sony and MS are doing everything possible to keep diehard gamers away from the new systems and just keeping their 360 and PS3. It's kind of mind boggling how they've forgotten these are GAMING consoles first and foremost and the social media stuff is secondary BS many gamers could care less about.

Maybe im just full of nostalgia, but I love getting out the old consoles and dusting off the controllers and playing the games of my childhood. Remember the golden Zelda cartridge?? Playing that game on my PC with an emulator and playing it on the original console is completely different if you ask me, especially when your holding the original controller.

People went from records to 8-track tapes to cassette tapes to compact discs to MP3 players. Microsoft is taking a cue from the music industry, sell the same thing over and over. We still have an old Xbox, a 360elite, as well as the newer 360. If the games are there, I may buy an Xbox One. To me the backwards compatibility isn't the issue, it's the having to be on line all the time, If I don't want to be on line, I should still be able to play the game that I PAID FOR. The problems that will arise with buying used games. It's the hassle of the loyal Xbox owners, because of some hackers, that pisses me off.

As for this having to check in daily or it will brick thing. Does Microsoft sell these boxes or do they think they still own them and we just rent them. If so, are they going to fix them for free for life? Because if they have the same track record the 360 boxes had......

Screw it. Maybe everyone should go back to playing games on their computers and forget consoles.

@so_hai Yeah your right but I do have some sponge bob games for young kids who come over the house to run around in his world. I'd love to see kids games a bit easier. Some of the lego games are hard and difficult for me and their geared towards young kids??

@ohjtbehaaave youre so right. when i get one of the next gen consoles (or both) i most likely will almost never use many of the secondary features of the "game" systems and just use it primarily to play games. i might share a few snippets of video footage of me accomplishing some incredulous feat in some game but for the most part it will just be a game system to me.

Here's the difference though...in the late 80s and early 90s this great thing called "technological advancement" allowed electronic manufactuers to create players that played both cassettes and compact discs. And now in the digital age, there simply is no excuse for why you cannot play a media that is intangible.

@BetaVulgaris Why, is M$ going to run into your house after you buy an Xbox One and steal your 360 so you can't use it to game anymore? Or is having two consoles under your TV too unsightly and hideous for you to even consider? I agree that the console should be backwards compatible, but that isn't the dealbreaker for me. I am much more upset that you will no longer be able to played used games on this piece of shit - companies like M$ don't give a fuck about end user experience so long as they squeeze every possible cent out of you that they can...

@Shahada1976 Lol that makes no sense....so the PS4 wont be able to play PS3 games but its the last straw for you because the Xone wont be able to play 360 games, so therefore il show my spite by getting a PS4 to prove them wrong?

@Irondiesel58@ohjtbehaaave I did mention Sony along with MS in my comment Dip S'. They are BOTH screwing the core gamer with their new system. Try some reading comprehension before you spout off genius.

@tendoboy1984@ohjtbehaaave I'm down with walkthroughs on Youtube being easy to do now... but that's a feature they could put in the new systems without sacrificing BC. I think the mistake MS and Sony are making with their new systems is they are catering to casual gamers with all the Social Media stuff and ignoring the diehard gamers who ares strictly about playing GAMES!

@pwnagesnip3r @EPPT1 "For single-player games that don’t require connectivity to Xbox Live, you should be able to play those without interruption should your Internet connection go down." That's a quote from Microsoft. And then came the question "how long players can go between having to check-in online with a single-player game, Harrison said "I believe it's 24 hours.".. I take my Xbox when we go camping and may not log on for several days. So basically, I'm screwed? I did my research.....

@Danny_KickAzz ROFL! Yeah, I was grumpy about the non-backwards compatibility... It's just a nice feature to have, especially in the beginning when the console is new because there are barely any games for it and its rotten to have to play your old console after you buy a new one! LOL

I've been thinking about switching to Playstation for a couple of years now. That's the real reason I'll probably go with a PS4.

If the 360 games aren't available, unless they have amazong exclusives, what's the incentive to stick with them? That's the point. At last PS4 won't make you get online, force you to use the awful kinect or charge you a fee for buying a used game.